PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — A game-high 18 points from Deuce Turner on Friday night helped fuel a furious second-half surge for San Diego men's basketball at Acrisure Arena, earning the Toreros (5-1, 0-0 WCC) a 71-57 comeback win over Arkansas State (1-4, 0-0 Sun Belt) as part of the Acrisure Invitational.

USD trailed by as many as nine in the first half and by a point at halftime but outscored the Red Wolves 44-29 in the second period to secure the victory. Wayne McKinney III and Dragos Lungu complemented Turner's big night with 11 points apiece.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Friday night's contest started off slow, with the Toreros and Red Wolves combining for just four points through the game's first 2:30.
• Arkansas State pulled ahead early and remained ahead throughout the frame, creating its largest lead of the first half at the 10:40 mark by a nine-point, 19-10 margin.
• A pair of made free throws from Wayne McKinney III with just over nine minutes remaining in the first half cut the San Diego deficit to five at 19-14.
• USD went nearly three minutes without scoring before McKinney III and Santiago Trouet found their marks to get the Toreros back within four at 23-19 with 4:21 to go.
• The Toreros continued their comeback by going on a 6-0 run as the half wound down, cutting the Red Wolves' lead to just one at 26-25 behind a clutch turnaround jumper from Trouet and a three-pointer and a made free throw from Deuce Turner.
• A layup from McKinney III with 1:04 to go gave USD its first lead of the evening at 27-26, but it was short-lived. Arkansas State jumped back in front 20 seconds later with a layup of its own, giving the Red Wolves a 28-27 advantage at the intermission.
• San Diego opened up the second half on a furious 12-0 run, extending its lead to 11 at 39-28 after layups from Jimmy Oladokun Jr. and Dragos Lungu, back-to-back scores and a free-throw from McKinney III, and a clutch three from PJ Hayes.
• Turner pushed USD's lead to a 13 with a three, giving the Toreros a 49-36 advantage to the under-12 media timeout.
• Keyon Kensie converted on a three-point play with 10:10 left in the game, giving USD a game-high 16-point lead at 52-36.
• Stingy San Diego defense helped San Diego create that advantage, with the Toreros holding the Red Wolves scoreless for four-plus minutes across the middle stages of the half.
• Turner scored each of USD's last six points down the stretch, putting the finishing touches on a big 71-57 win for the Toreros at the Acrisure Invitational.

TORERO TIDBITS

• Fourteen of Turner's 18 points on Friday night came in the second half. 
• Kevin Patton Jr. recorded eight points, six rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. 
• Santiago Trouet tallied a team-high nine rebounds and led the Toreros with five blocks.
• McKinney III added four assists.

UP NEXT
The Toreros are back in action tomorrow evening, when they conclude play in the Acrisure Invitational with a matchup against Hawaii. Tip-off at Acrisure Arena opposite the Rainbow Warriors is set for 7:30 p.m.